tyzzer



l 1941. H. J. TY ZZER v R. 21,9( )2 PUSH BUTTON TUNING DEVICE OriginalFiled Feb. 24, 19:58 2 sneets-sheet 1 mu w INVENTOR- lyowana J T rzzER.

ATTORNEYS- H. J. TYZZE R Re. 21,902

PUSH BUTTON TUNING DEVICE Sept 16, 1941.

.2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Fiied Feb. 24,' 1938 1 m Lii INVENTOR.

Haw/12b J Trzzsa.

' ATToRNEYs.

Reissued Sept. 16, 1941 v v rusn au'r'ro mum nsvrc: Howard J. Tyuer,Montoiair, N. I asoignor to cmm'im, o

The Crosley Corporation,

corporation of Ohio Original-No. 2,222,789, dated November 26, 1040,

Serial No. 192158, February 24. 19a. Application for reissue May I,1841, Serial No. 392,397

17 Claims,

My invention relates to what may be termed semi-automatic tuning devicesfor radio sets and the. like. The popularity of means for effecting therapid tuning of radio sets to certain preselected stations appears to beon the increase. A number of different types of tuning devices havebeendeveloped, including those operated by electric motors; butmechanical systems are in general less'expensive to construct. Myinvcntion relates to a particular mechanical sys- (em; and it has forits objects the provision of an organization in which tuning iseii'ected by the actuation of push buttons, in which the spacerequirements are very small and in which the apparatus is simple andeasy to construct, inexpensive and not liable to get out of repair.

Since modern day radio sets are of the superheterodyne type, theyrequire by reason of their selectivity, extremely accurate tuning. It istherefore my object to provide a mechanical organization capable ofgiving this extremely accurate tuning; but itls further my object toprovide a structure and arrangement of parts wherein this accuracy issecured without the necessity of extreme accuracy in the manufacture ofthe broken away, of one form of my device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-! of Fig. 1. v Fig. 3is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 33 of Fig. 2, Fig.4; is a perspective view of a locking mem-' ber employedwlth the pushbutton assembly of theforegoing figures.

Fig. 5 Ba perspective view of the assembly of Fig. l.

Figs. Band '7 are respectively plan and elevational views of anothertype of plunger assembly which may be employed in the device of Figs. '1and 5. v

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through another embodiment of my apparatus.

Fig. 9. is a plunger assembly suitable for use with the embodiment ofFig. 8.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention, I prof vide a pivoted plateadapted to swing about a longitudinal axis. This plate is connected by asuitable drive to the shaft of a gang condenser or other tuning means inthe radio set. I provide also a plurality of push buttons havingplungers to guide their movements, and in connection with these pushbuttons I provide means on the. plungers to determin the position of theplate when the push buttons are depressed. In I this way the actuationof any particular push button will cause the plate to assume a positionpeculiar to that button, and as a consequence, the shaft of the gangcondenser will be rotated to a predetermined setting very accurately.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 I have shown an organizationof apparatus wherein if the series of push buttons is located. at thefront of the radio set, the axis of the gang condenser is parallel tothe front of the radio cabinet. In the embodiment of Fig. 8, I haveshown a style of apparatus wherein under the same I conditions, theshaft of the gang condenser is normal to the front of the radio cabinet.It will be understood that modifications 'maybe made'ln my apparatuswithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and in particular thedifferent types of drives between the plate to which I have referred andthe gang condenser shaft, or other tuning device, may be varied, ifdesired. By way of a single example, but without limitation, if it isdesired to use the apparatus of Figs. l and 5 in a radio set in whichthe gang condenser shaft is normal to the front of the cabinet, it willbe within the skill of the worker in the art to interpose between thedriven 40 gear and the condenser shaft, a pair of beveled be located asdesired.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, I have illustrated a casing l, inwhich the apparatus is mounted. This casing is preferably, though not ofthe radio set. In the casing upon suitable pivots I and i I mount aplate I. As I have indicated, a suitable drive is established betweenthis plate and the condenser gang shaft Q. In the particular embodimentillustrated in these figures. 9. gear segment 8 is fastened to the plateso that the toothed edge is concentric with the pivot point of theplate. A meshing gear ill r is fastened to the gang condenser driveshaft. In order to take uplost motion, this gear may gears or the like,so that the condenser shaft can necessarily located below the gangcondenser 4 back wall of the casing I.

comprise two mating parts, one of which is fa stened to the shaft Q. andthe other Of which is slightly rotatable on'the shaft and is actuated byv a spring. A- gear arrangement of this type is well known in the artand has been illustrated by me in Figs. 2 and 5; but it does not requirespecial description.

In the particular em manual tuning shaft for the radio set. A sheave I2is non-rotatably fastened to the plate, so as sumo:

slotted as at I1. so that it will pass over the lug out which 1 am i nowdescribing, a shaft I! is moimted above the casing, l on suitablebearing brackets and is the 22 and flxesits angular position. A teni'orotate itabout the pivots I and i. A belt Ills looped over this sheaveand at its ends is wound in opposite directions about the shaft ll, andfastened to this shaft. A tuning knob I may be fastened to the shaft IIwhere it projects beyond the front rim of the radio cabinet, indicatedin Fig. 2 at I I. A longitudinal indicator has been illustratedin Figs.1 and 2. Here a sheave I8 is fastened to the condenser gang' shaft 8. Anendless belt I1 is looped about the sheave ll, passes over small sheavesII and I! and is carried horizontally above the gang con-' denser andparallel with the'iront I! of the radio an enlarged body portion 23which is slidably mounted in a slot 24 in the front member of the casingL The plunger also has a tail 2! which is slidably mounted in a slot 26in the In order to limit the forward movement of the plunger assembly. acotter pin or the like 21, may be passed through the hole in the tail ofthe plunger beyond the back wall of the casing. Eachplunger likewise hasa forwardly extending portion 28 upon which push buttons 29 may beplaced. The push but-" tons are marked, or are so constructed that theymay be provided with indlcia showing the particular station to whicheach push button will be effective in tuning the radio set. The tall 25of each push button passes through a perforation 29 in the Plate 1, theperforation being large enough to permit rotation of the I2 and be heldin place by the set screw 30. The portion II also has a 5 smallperforation 3|.

These parts are assembled as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thesemi-circular part 39 on th forward. portion of the arm ll underlies thelocking member {If-36. When' the set screw 34 is tightened, the end ofit bears against the portion of the locking member, so as to depressthis portion against the portion 3| of the arm. This binds the armtightly against the sion spring I. may be engaged between theperforation II in thelocking member and a perforation 4| in Jthefrontwall of the casing- I.

This springkeeps the plunger assemblies in the forward position. Theslot 2| in the front wall of the casing I isenlarged .sidewise, as shownat in Fig. 1, so asto pass the lugs 32 and 33. When it is desired to setup the apparatus for automatic tuning, a particular one of the pushbuttons is selected as appropriate fora gselected station. The set screw34 is loosened.

"cabinet, returning over a small sheave 20. A pointer 2| is fastened tothis belt and moves over;

-'I'he radio set is tuned to the selected station,

position is attained the set screws 34 is tight-' ened up to bend thevarm: and the plunger is released. "Ihereafter; .whenever the sameplunger is depressed, and whatever may be the plate through the desiredare 'without interference from the tail.

So that each push button may, when depressed, bring about a desiredangularity of the plate I, I pivot to each plunger body, as at Ill, anarm 2!. At each end of this arm there is a slight protuberance, asillustrated, and it will be evident that if the arm is fastened to theplunger body with a certain angular relationship, and if the push buttonis depressed so as to bring the arm 3! against the plate I, the arm willbe effective in causing the plate 1 to assume the same angularity. Iprovide means for locking the several arms in the desired angularrelationships. To this end, I prefer to strike up from the body 28 twolugs 32 and 33, and to thread a set screw 34 into these lugs. A lockingmember illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises two angularly initial position ofthe plate I. the plate will be brought to an angular position determinedby the fixed position of the arm ti; and the radio set will thereby. betuned to the selected station. Similar procedures for other stations arefollowed with the other push buttons in the as- I sembly. The number ofpush buttons provided does not constitute a limitation upon myinvention. Y

I have shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of plunger in which I havegiven to like parts like index numerals. In this particular form, thearm ll is pivoted as at Ill, between the body portion 230 and a piece ofsheet metal I which is interspaced from the body 23a,'as shown, exceptthat at the forward end it is bent into a U-shape 44. the base of whichis riveted to the body 23a at It. The set screw 34 is threaded in thelegs of the U. The end of the set screw bears against a friction memberor shoe ll. This shoe is placed between the body 23a and the member lland, as shown; and where it extends beyond these members it is madewider to prevent displacement. The shoe ll bears against thesemi-circular portion ll of the arm II and serves to fix it in position.

I have shown a somewhat different type of organization in Figs. 8 and 9.Here a casing Ia has been provided, the condenser gang I being mountedthereabove, as previously described, excepting'that the shaft ofthe-gang condenser-is normal to the plane o the front wall of the casingia,.and' therefore is normal to the plane of the front of the radiocabinet indicated at "a. It will be understood that the casing la may bethe chassis of the radio set. The plate In in this instance is pivotedto brackets 41. For a driving connection between the plates la and thegang condenser shaft I, I have shown the following: an arm 48 is fixedto the plate 10.. The condenser shaft is provided with a sheave 49. Anendless belt ill is looped under this departing from the spirit thereof.

is carried backwardly beneath the top wall of the casing In to returnover a rearward sheave 53. The arm 48 is fastened to the belt 56, as at21,902 sheave, passes over smailsheaves i" and 52;and

tween said member and said mechanism, a plunger longitudinally movablein a direction transverse to said axis, an arm centrally pivoted Y. onsaid plunger for contacting and moving said To the front portion of thecasing lo, I fasten a bracket 55. A plunger indicated generally at 55,is slidably mounted in slots 51 and II respectively in the front wall ofthe casing la and in the bracket 55, as clearly shown in Fig. 8., Therear portion of the plunger has a downwardly turned member 56a. Ears 59and 50 are formed on the plunger 56 and a set screw 81 is threaded inthese ears. The end of the set screw is interspaced, as shown, from theplunger projection 56a. and these two parts form, after adjustment, themeans for bringing the plate la to the desired angular position.

When setting up this apparatus the radio set is again tuned to aselected station by hand and a plunger selected as appropriate to thatstation.

The set screw BI is loosened and the plunger 56 is depressed until itsprojection 56a bears against the plate 1a. While maintaining thisposition of the plunger, the operator next turns the set screw 6| untilthe end of it also lies against the plate la. The setting is nowcomplete. Thereafter when the plunger is depressed the combined actionof the set screw iii and the plunger projection 55a (the one lying aboveand the other below the pivot points of the plate la) will be to bringthe plate la to the angular position previously determined. I

As has been indicated hereinabove, wide modifications may be made in myinvention without Havingthus described my invention, I append claimsrelating to that which I consider new therein, and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with mechanism to betuned, a positionable member connected to said mechanism for rotatingthe same, and mounted for rotation about an axis, a plunger membermovable longitudinally in a direction transverse to said axis, apositioning member pivoted on saidplunger for contacting and moving saidpositionable member,

and means for locking said positioning member in a selected angularrelationship on said plunger,

said locking means comprising frictional means having attachment to saidplunger member and member, and means for locking said arm in a selectedangular position on said plunger, said means comprising an angular pa'rtconnected to said plunger and having a portion engaging said arm, and aset screw on said plunger engaging said angular part and binding itagainst said arm.

4. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with a mechanism to betuned. a member pivoted to turn about one of its axes, a drive betweensaid member and said mechanism, a

plunger longitudinally movable transversely to said member, an armpivoted on said plunger so as to be positionable by said member whenbrought thereagainst by said plunger, and means for locking said arm inposition on said plunger so that thereafter said arm acts to positionsaid member when brought thereagainst by said plunger.

5. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with a mechanism to betuned, a casing, a member pivoted to turn on one of its axes in saidcasing, a connection between said member and said mechanism, a series ofplungers slidably mounted in said casingfor motion transversely to andthrough said axis and adjustable means on said plungers for swingingsaid member to predetermined angular positions, said means comprising anarm pivoted centrally to each plunger and means on said plunger forlocking said arm to said plunger, each said arm having end portionsforcontacting said member on each side of its said axis.

6. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with a mechanism to betuned, a casing, a member pivoted to turn on one of its axes in saidcasing, a connection between said member and.

said mechanism, a series of plungers slidably mounted in said casing formotion transversely to and through said axis, and adjustable means onsaid plungers for swinging said member to on said plunger engaging saidretaining means,

each said arm having end portions for contacting bearing against saidpositioning member, and a tween said member and said mechanism, a.

plunger longitudinally movable in a direction transverse to said axis,an arm centrally pivoted on said plunger for'contacting and moving saiddetermined angular positions, said means comprising an arm pivotedcentrally to each plunger,

member, and means for locking saidarm in a selected angular position onsaid plunger, said means comprising frictional retaining means movableon said plunger and engaging said arm,

and a set screw on said plunger engaging said retaining means.

3. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with a mechanism to betuned, a member pivoted to turn about one of its axes, a drive besaidmember on each side of its said axis.

7. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with a mechanism to betuned, a casing,.a member pivoted to turn about one of its axes in saidcasing, a connection between said member and said mechanism, a series ofplungers slidably mounted in said casing for motion transversely to andthrough said axis, and adjustable means on said plungers for swingingsaid member to preand means on said plunger for locking said arm, tosaid plunger, said means comprising frictional retaining means movableon said plunger and engaging said arm, and a set screw on said plungerengaging said retaining means, said plungers extending through a wall ofsaid casing, and said set screws accessible through said wall, each saidarm having end portions for contacting said member on ea'ch'side of itssaid axis.

8. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with a mechanism to betuned, a casing, a member pivoted to turn about one of its axes in saidcasing, a connection between said mem her and said mechanism, a seriesof plungers slidably mounted in said casing for motion transversely toand through said axis, and adjustable means on said plungers forswinging said member to predetermined angular positions, said meanscomprising an arm pivoted centrally to each plunger and means on saidplunger for locking and arm to said plunger, said means comprisingfrictional retaining means movable on said plunger and engaging saidarm, and a set screw on said plunger engaging said retaining means, saidplungers having a bearing in the walls of said casing on each side ofsaid axis in one di rection, and each said am having end portions forcontacting said member on each side of its said axisin anotherdirection.

9. In an automatic tuning device, in combination with a mechanism to betuned, a casing, a member pivoted to turn on one of its axes-in saidcasing, a connection between said member and said-mechanism. a series ofplungers slidably mounted in said casing for motion transversely toandthrough said axis, and adjustable means on said plungers for singingsaid member to predetermined angular positions, said means comprising anarm pivoted centrally to each plunger and means on said plunger forlocking said arm to said plunger, said means comprising an angular partpivoted to said plunger and having a portion engaging said arm, and aset screw on said plunger. engaging said angular part and binding itagainst said arm, each said am having end portions for contacting saidmember on each side of its said axis.

10. In a plunger device for automatic tuning means, a plunger havingbearing surfaces by which it may be mounted for longitudinal movement,and positioning means pivoted to said plunger, said positioning meanscomprising an arm having portions at its ends for'contacting andpositioning a movable member, and an intermediate portion having anoutline of substantially semi-circular form concentric with thepalnt atwhich said positioning means is pivoted to said plunger, said plungerbearing means for eifecting frictional contact with said last mentionedportion of said positioning means, and a plunger, so that saidsemi-circular portion of said positioning means is clamped and held bythe frictional interengagement of at least two pairs of faces.

12. Plunger means for use in an automatic tuning device comprising aplunger having hearing surfaces upon which it may be mounted forlongitudinal movement and positioning means pivoted to said plunger,said positioning means having end portions extending on opposite sidesof said plunger for contacting and positionins another element inaccordance with the angular relationship of said positioning means tosaid plunger, said positioning means having a face portion adapted forfrictional engagement with said plunger and another face portion, alocking member podtioned for frictional engagement with said lastmentioned face portion and means on said plunger for operating saidlocking member so as to eflect said frictional engagements. 13.. Acontrol device of the character described com-prising, in combination, asupporting frame,

a plurality of laterally spaced and parallel push bars slidably mountedon said frame, cam devices adjustably mounted on said push bars, a

- tudinal axis,a connection between said member set screw extendinglongitudinally of said plunger for actuating said frictional contactmeans. 11. In a plunger device for automatic tuning means, a plungerhaving bearing surfaces by which it may be mounted for longitudinalmovement, and positioning means pivoted to said plunger. saidpositioning means comprising an arm having portions at its ends forcontacting and positioning a movable member, and an intermediate portionhaving an outline of substantially semi-circular form concentric withthe point at which said positioning means is ply-.- oted to saidplunger,.said plunger bearing means for effecting frictional contactwith'said last mentioned portion of said positioning -means. and a setscrew extending longitudinally of said plunger for actuatingsaidfrictional contact means, said frictional contact means comprising aportion having a face adapted to lie in contact with a face of saidsemi-circular portion of said positioning means, and means whereby saidset screw is rendered eiiective in clamping said frictional contactmeans against vsaid positioning means and said positioning means againstsaid and said mecha plungers longitudinally movable transversely; tosaid axis and having portions passing through said axis, said elongatedmember being perforated in its central portion to permit passage of saidplungers, and means on said plungers for swinging said elongated memberto determined angular positions when saidmeans are brought against saidelongated member respectively.

p 15. Apparatus as' claimed in claim 14 including bearing means for saidplungers on each side I of said elongated member.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14including bearing means for saidplungers on each side of. said elongated member, said means on saidplungers being adjustable as to position with respect thereto.

17. In automatic tuning apparatus a mechanism to be tuned, a memberpivoted to swing about one of its axes. a connection between said memberand said mechanism, aplunger movable on a longitudinal axis transverselyto the axis of said member for moving said member,

saidplunger having a head for manual operation, adjustable means on saidplunger for positioning said member and mechanism arranged to retainsaid adjustable meansin adjusted position, said mechanism available foroperation adiacent the end of said plunger, the-said combinationincluding a front panel through which the plunger nl' lects, saidadjustable means being accessible from the front of said panel.

- HOWARD J. TYZZER.

